2025.05.04 (Vrindavan Today News): Braj – Vrindavan was shaken by the discovery of multiple monkey skeletons at Govardhan’s Govind Kund area. The deeply unsettling incident has sparked outrage in Govardhan. More than two dozen monkeys were found dead, allegedly shot with an air gun. The incident occurred in Aanyor village, situated along the Govardhan Parikrama Marg.
Over the past six weeks, villagers in the Govardhan region of Uttar Pradesh had been discovering the bodies and skeletons of monkeys near the Govardhan Parikrama path. The findings deeply disturbed the local residents, especially given the cultural reverence monkeys hold in the region, often seen as manifestations of Lord Hanuman. The grim discovery was made early Monday morning when local residents noticed multiple monkey carcasses scattered across the area.
A closer inspection revealed around 24 dead monkeys, most of them bearing pellet wounds to the head. The villagers, deeply distressed by the scene, quickly gathered and raised a protest demanding immediate action.
Upon receiving the alert, Senior Superintendent of Police (Rural), Trigun Bisen, arrived at the site along with a forensic team. The remains of the monkeys were sent for post-mortem examination to ascertain the exact cause of death and confirm the weapon used.
A formal complaint was filed by animal welfare advocate Madhav Singh against two individuals: Mahant Janki Das, the head priest of the local Janki Das temple, and a Ukrainian national identified as Igor, also known by his spiritual name Braj Sundar Das. Igor has reportedly been living in India since 2012 on a valid work visa and resides in an ashram near the Govind Kund area on the foot hill of Govardhan Hill.
According to the complaint, monkey deaths had been occurring in the area for over a month and a half, with suspicion growing over unnatural causes. The accused were taken into custody and an air gun believed to be used in the killings was recovered from them.
During preliminary interrogation, both individuals admitted to purchasing the air gun online about two months ago. They claimed their intent was only to scare away the monkeys, who had allegedly become a nuisance near the temple and ashram premises. “We never intended to kill them,” they reportedly told police.
However, under India’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, such actions carry serious legal consequences. A case has been officially registered against the duo, and further legal proceedings will follow based on the autopsy report.
This tragic incident has not only shaken the local community but also raised larger concerns about how sacred animals like monkeys — revered in Hindu culture as symbols of Lord Hanuman — are being treated, even in pilgrimage towns. Govardhan, a place of deep spiritual heritage, is now confronting a painful paradox: violence in the land of peace and prayer.
LOCALS’ VIGILANCE HELPED NAB THE CULPRITS
As investigations continue, both national and international observers await justice — not just for the sake of animal rights, but for the sanctity of a place held sacred by millions across the globe.
Madhav Singh, a local elder, could no longer ignore the unsettling trend. Sensing foul play, he quietly assembled a team of village youth. What began as grassroots concern evolved into a coordinated surveillance operation. Working in rotating shifts, the young men watched the forests, pathways, and nearby temples for signs of activity—day and night.
Their vigilance paid off. After several days, they noticed suspicious behaviour near a once-obscure ashram, now known as the Shri Radha Madan Mohan Temple. This temple, once presided over by a respected Mahant who passed away nearly a decade ago, is currently overseen by his nephew, Jagmohan—now known in monastic circles as Mahant Jankidas.
The real shock came when the villagers identified a foreign resident of the ashram as the prime suspect. Igor, a Ukrainian national who had taken the name Braj Sundar Das after adopting the garb of a Hindu sadhu, had been living intermittently at the ashram since 2012. Initially arriving on a tourist visa, he later obtained a work visa through association with the Vrinda Foundation for Social and Cultural Welfare, valid until June 2025.
Locals revealed that Braj Sundar Das, disturbed by the playful antics of monkeys near the temple premises, had recently ordered a high-powered airgun online. Unlike standard airguns, which may startle animals but rarely cause serious injury, this one used high-quality pellet capable of lethally piercing small animals. Post-mortem examinations confirmed that the monkeys had died from internal injuries caused by these very pellets.
The killings were brought to a head on a Monday morning when villagers discovered the lifeless bodies of over two dozen monkeys. Dhiraj Kaushik, a local cow protector and animal welfare advocate, took charge of cremating 17 of them. This grim task intensified the community’s resolve. When they traced the use of the airgun to the temple premises, they filed an official complaint with the police.
Upon investigation, the police detained both Braj Sundar Das and Mahant Jankidas. While the foreigner was charged under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, Janakidas was released after initial questioning, triggering further outrage among the villagers. They now plan to escalate the matter to higher authorities, demanding a thorough investigation into the Mahant’s possible complicity.
The incident has not only drawn in local law enforcement but also activated the attention of intelligence agencies, given the foreign national’s long-term stay under the guise of religious service and his possession of a valid passport till 2029.
As the village of Govardhan tries to reconcile this betrayal of faith and trust, the tragedy raises urgent questions about oversight, the misuse of religious identities, and the silent suffering of sacred creatures in one of India’s most revered spiritual landscapes.
